Blackberry-Shawnee cultivar

ABSTRACT

Description and specifications of a new and distinct blackberry variety which originated from seed produced by a hand-pollinated cross of Cherokee (non-patented) and Arkansas Selection 586 (non-patented) is provided. This new blackberry variety can be distinguished by its late fruit ripening, large fruit size, high fruit productivity, and very erect cane growth habit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new and distinct variety of blackberry originated from ahand-pollinated cross of Cherokee (non-patented) × Arkansas Selection586 (non-patented) made in 1971 at the Arkansas Agricultural ExperimentStation Fruit Substation at Clarksville, Ark. The seeds resulting fromthis controlled hybridization were germinated in a greenhouse in thespring of 1972 and planted in a field on the Arkansas AgriculturalExperiment Station at Clarksville, Ark. The seedlings fruited during thesummer of 1974 and one, designated Ark. 730, was selected for its largefruit size, erect growth habit, and high productivity.

During 1975, the original plant selection was propagated asexually fromroot cuttings and a test row of 20 plants was established. Subsequently,larger test plantings have been established with asexually multipliedplants at six additional locations in Arkansas and on state and/orfederal experiment stations in New York, Louisiana, Maryland, Texas,North Carolina and Alabama.

The new variety has been asexually multiplied annually since 1975 by theuse of root cuttings and by rooting softwood cuttings. It forms newplants from adventitious buds on root cuttings readily and also rootswell from softwood cuttings. During all asexual multiplication, thecharacteristics of the original plant have been maintained and noaberrant phenotypes have appeared.

Test plantings over a wide geographic area have shown this new varietyto be adapted to differing soil and climatic conditions. It hasperformed well in tests in the Southeast U.S. but is not coldhardy innorthern states.

Plants of the new variety are highly vigorous and prolific and rowestablishment following planting is rapid. Both primocanes andfloricanes are very erect and the fruit is readily accessible to bothmachine and hand harvest. Thorn size and density are medium, similar toCherokee and Cheyenne varieties. Plants and fruit are moderatelytolerant to anthracnose (Elsinoe veneta (Burkh.) Jenkins), and plantsare immune to orange rust (Gymnoconia peckiana (Howe) Trott).

Fruit of the new variety ripens late, about 5 days after the Cheyennevariety. Average ripening date is June 18 in central Arkansas. Theharvest period is longer than most other erect varieties; it produceswell for a full month. This long fruiting period results in high totalyields and the new variety has consistently outyielded the standardvarieties Cherokee, Comanche and Cheyenne.

The fruit is long conic in shape, bright black in color and very largein size (ca. 7.7 g). Fruit size is maintained well throughout theseason, without the significant decline in size of secondary andtertiary fruits common in other varieties. The fruit is firm atmaturity, being equal to that of the Cheyenne variety and better thanthat of the Comanche variety.

The fresh fruit has better flavor than the Comanche variety, is equal toCheyenne, and slightly less flavored than Cherokee. Fruit processed bycanning is of good quality, equal to Cherokee and Cheyenne, and superiorto Comanche. Seed size is slightly larger than Cherokee but smaller thanthe Comanche variety.

Fruit clusters are medium-large, cymose, and are borne on the peripheryof the plant canopy, providing easy access to harvest. Flower fertilityis high and clusters are well filled.

The new variety has been named the Shawnee cultivar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the fruit andleaf of the new variety in color as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make in a color illustration of this character.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of the pomologicalcharacteristics of the subject blackberry. Color terminology is inaccordance with that of The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chartpublished in 1966 by The Royal Horticultural Society of London, England.

Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, itis to be understood that such characteristics are approximations ofaverages set forth as accurately as practicable.

The descriptions reported herein are from specimens grown atClarksville, Ark. unless otherwise noted.

Plant:

Size.--Large, very erect.

Growth.--Very vigorous; prolific suckering from roots and crowns.

Productivity.--Very high and for duration of one month; consistent fromyear to year.

Cold hardiness.--Medium, similar to Cheyenne.

Canes.--Very erect. Cane diameter: base 15.6 mm, midpoint 12.0 mm,terminal 6.9 mm. Internode length: base 22.4 mm, midpoint 50.0 mm,terminal 25.4 mm. Thorn density (per 30 cm): base 30.0, midpoint 37.0,terminal 42.0. Floricane color: base Brown Group (200D), midpoint BrownGroup (200C), terminal Brown Group (200B). Primocane color: baseYellow-Green Group (146B), terminal Yellow-Green Group (146B).

Disease resistance.--Moderate for anthracnose; immune to orange rust.

Foliage:

Leaves.--Large. Color: Floricane base Yellow-Green Group (147A),floricane terminal Yellow-Green Group (147A); Primocane baseYellow-Green Group (147A), primocane terminal Yellow-Green Group (146A).

Flowers:

Date of first bloom.--Apr. 16.

Date of last bloom.--May 3.

Blossom color.--Yellow-White Group 158D with slight pink at border.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens -- Erect, numerous. Pistils -- Numerous.Pollen -- Normal and abundant.

Fruit:

Maturity.--Late, 5 days after Cheyenne. Average ripe date June 18.Average period of maturity June 18-July 19.

Size.--Large, average 7.7 g, uniform.

Shape.--Medium long conic, uniform.

Color.--Glossy black.

Skin.--Medium tender.

Drupelet size.--Medium.

Seed size.--Medium large.

Firmness.--Good, equal to Cheyenne.

Flavor. --Good, mildly acid.

Soluble solids.--9.9%.

pH.--3.04.

Total acids.--1.293%.

Processed quality.--Good, equal to Cheyenne.

Uses.--Fresh and processed, jellies, jams.

The variety:

The most distinctive features of the variety are its large fruits, highproductivity, late ripening and very erect cane growth habit.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of blackberry, substantially asillustrated and described, characterized by its late ripening, largefruits, high productivity and very erect cane growth habit.